Artists' Fellowship - 1995
Printmaking/Drawing/Artists Books
Artist Statement:
Replete with references to the ancient frescoes and mosaics of the Etruscans, Romans and Byzantines, my portraits capture a timeless moment through a contemporary eye. Inspired by the sacred and folk arts and the vanishing art of hand-painted signage, I create portraits of diverse individuals, gathering images through my travels and life in New York City.
For the past 7 years I have concentrated on a series of figurative works painted in oil or gouache on paper. At times I incorporate collaged decorative elements from a variety of sources including old catalogs, field guides and vintage books into the work. I use color and pattern to evoke emotion and tell stories of daily life where the viewer is drawn into an intimate world. My work is clearly inspired by the traditional, but the impact of my personal history is evident in the quiet presentation of issues of gender and race.
More about the Artist:
For the past twenty-eight years I have been working steadfastly in my studio towards private goals as an artist. In my work, which is often autobiographical, I use the iconography of simple objects and acts of daily life to tell stories which frequently address profound issues through a woman's eyes. As a self-taught artist my work reflects the disappearing graphic and design styles of the 1940's and 50's from which I draw my early aesthetic sensibilities. I was born in Brooklyn and grew up in and around New York City. I worked from the model for many years starting in the 1960's when I was a high school student. In addition to hours spent in life drawing groups, I spent many hours in the museums of New York City studying the works of the modern masters. For the past four years I have worked on a series of figurative works on paper. The figures float in ground space and are often surrounded by collage motifs of appropriated paper images which are meticulously cut and pasted onto the surface. The use of color and its ability to express emotion is an important aspect of my work. I have traveled frequently in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.
In 1995 I received a fellowship in drawing from the New York Foundation for the Arts. I have been in numerous exhibitions, both solo and group, in New York, New England, Latin America, and England. Recent exhibitions include “Botanical Gardens: The Birds and the Bees” at Kenise Barnes Fine Art in Larchmont, New York, (2002),“Body Language” at The Islip Museum in East Islip, NY (2002) and “Drawing On Language” at SPACES in Cleveland, Ohio. "A Brief History of Fashion and Friendship", a solo exhibition in November 2000 at Kenise Barnes Fine Art in Larchmont, New York was highlighted with a half-page article/review with color reproductions in the New York Times (December 17, 2000). In March 1999 my work was featured at Jeffrey Hoffeld & Co. at the Armory "Works on Paper" show in New York City. In December 1998 my work was seen in a two woman exhibition at Sideshow Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In February 1996 I had a solo exhibition at Galeria Azul in Guadalajara, Mexico. Past New York shows include "Current Undercurrent" at the Brooklyn Museum (1997-1998); "Pay Per It" at Sideshow Gallery (1998); "Local Color" Henry Street Settlement (1998); "Women View Women" at Elsa Mott Ives Gallery (1998); New York Soho Biennial (1995); "The Box Show" K & E Gallery (1994); "Dia De Los Muertos III" Alternative Museum (1990); "The China Show" P.S. 1 Museum (1990); and "Best of the Annual Juried" at the Queens Museum (1989).
Since 1987 I have worked as a teaching artist to complement my time in the studio. I have worked for a variety of institutions and organizations including Young Audiences/New York, The New York Foundation for the Arts, P.S. 1 Museum, New York City Board of Education, The Bronx Museum, The Noguchi Museum, Socrates Sculpture Park, The State Department of Education and the Jamaica Arts Center. I received numerous Artist-in-Residence grants from the New York Foundation for the Arts. In addition to my work as a teaching artist, I often gives slide lectures on my work.
In 1992 I was honored with an award as an artist-in-residence at Altos de Chavon/ The School of Design, an affiliate of Parsons School of Design in the Dominican Republic. My work is in numerous private collections in the United States, Mexico and Europe.
From September 2002 until September 2003 I will accompany my husband, the sculptor Arthur Simms, for a year at the American Academy in Rome where I will focus on my work as a painter.
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